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Buc-ee’s estimates first Va. location to open in June
Leave it to beaver — the behatted mascot of mega-travel center chain Buc-ee’s, that is. Texas-based Buc-ee’s projects it will open its first travel center in Virginia — its 74,000-square-foot Rockingham County location — on June 30, although the opening date is not set in stone, Buc-ee’s Media Coordinator Crissy Gonzales noted in an email […]
Buc-ee’s starts construction on Rockingham center
It won’t be too long before drivers on Interstate 81 in Rockingham County will see a sign bearing a friendly, hat-wearing beaver. Texas-based travel center chain Buc-ee’s started construction on its first travel center in Virginia with a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday. Gov. Glenn Youngkin was there, as well as Buc-ee’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” […]
Buc-ee’s buys land for second Va. location
A second Buc-ee’s Super Center is coming to Virginia along a busy stretch of highway in Shenandoah Valley near Mount Crawford. Buc-ee’s Mt. Crawford LLC purchased 21.3 acres located at the intersection of Interstate 81 and Friedens Church Road in Rockingham County from Lispen LLC for $6.6 million, Norfolk-based S.L Nusbaum Realty announced Tuesday. Plans […]
German yeast upcycler building plant in Rockingham
Leiber, a German manufacturer that processes brewers’ yeast into animal food, biotechnology and supplements, will invest as much as $20 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Rockingham County’s Innovation Village, adding an estimated 35 jobs. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the new facility Monday. It will be completed in phases and increase the company’s […]
Agriculture 2023: JOHN KING
Turkey growers in the Shenandoah Valley formed the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative in 2004, after Pilgrim’s Pride announced it was closing a processing plant in Hinton, a major economic hit to the region. Approximately 200 farmers own 100% of the co-op and receive a portion of profits based on how much business each farm does […]
Agriculture 2023: MATTHEW RYAN
The 34-year-old Soli Organic closed on a Series D funding round in October 2022 totaling nearly $125 million, funds that will go toward expanding its high-tech, soil-based indoor farms where it grows herbs and leafy greens for sale at more than 20,000 retail stores. Started as Shenandoah Growers, Soli rebranded in 2021 and is now […]
Transportation 2023: DEVON C. ANDERS
In 1993, Jerry Morris and Wayne Ruck bought an old Weyers Cave factory, seeking to maintain their box-manufacturing business while entering the logistics sector. Anders, then an accountant seeking a different field, became InterChange’s president in 2000. Since then, InterChange’s portfolio has grown to nearly 2 million square feet and 500-plus acres of prime industrial […]
Plans revealed for second Buc-ee’s Va. location
Buc-ee’s appears to be planning its second Virginia location, this time along Interstate 81 in Rockingham County near Mt. Crawford. According to a post on the county’s Facebook page, Buc-ee’s, the Texas-sized travel center chain, has applied for a special use permit for review and approval of a proposed sign plan. The Texas-based retailer is […]
Avian flu outbreaks strike Va. farms
For almost a year, Virginia poultry farms managed to avoid the nation’s worst-ever avian flu outbreak, but in January, the virus struck a commercial turkey operation in Rockingham County, prompting the killings of 25,300 birds. Five days later, 10,700 more turkeys were euthanized in Rockingham, and in February, 800 birds at an Alexandria live market […]
A time to build
The Shenandoah Valley Partnership had more economic development activity than “anyone anticipated in 2022,” says Jay Langston, the partnership’s executive director. During the calendar year, the partnership saw close to $140 million in investment and 520 jobs. In Fishersville, Amazon.com Inc. is building a $120 million, 1 million-square-foot nonsortable fulfillment center, which handle[...]
Soli Organic hires former Tesla exec
Rockingham County-based Soli Organic Inc. has hired former Tesla executive Jeff Jackson as its chief infrastructure officer, the indoor farming company announced Friday. Jackson was the director of infrastructure for Tesla, which manufactures electric vehicles. At Soli Organic, he will support the strategic development of the company’s new facilities and infrastructure. He will lead building[...]
Return to form
In terms of business activity and economic development wins, 2021 turned out to be a stellar year for the Shenandoah Valley. “We have exceeded what we anticipated from a business activity perspective,” says Jay Langston, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, which promotes economic development from Shenandoah County to Rockbridge County. “When government shut […]
